Cayless & Vella to the 2nd row :Fitzy

[bartman]

Yeah, don't know how much I'd trust Fitzy's view of things...

Hopkins should be in the 17 for sure, I'd like to see him get first shot at lock with Wags on the bench, but either way I feel Lee will cover quite a few positions in a game for us in 2004 - giving Morris a spell at Hooker, lock, second row, and whatever else comes up.

Hindmarsh is a killer second rower, just leave him there. Cayless goes well up the front.

Pearson wasn't recruited for nothing, I think he'll be starting prop, one more year of soaking up and dishing out some tough stuff. Vella I think is bench material, and if he can play well when coming on in the second row good on him, but he'd also cover prop.

Which leaves one forward bench spot for the opener, which could easily be Tsoulos or Armit, or Stapleton, Cannings, or whoever on form? I expect rotations during the season, as players find form in reggies or need to cover for injuries.

Very impressed with the depth, and our 2004 reggies side will rock!

 

[PB]

....

 

[Pazza]

if justice is to be done then hopkins should be starting lock

 

[PB]

Smith has bought up on big lug style forwards, which makes me think, that pending on injuries, Hopkins may struggle to find a spot (unless he is to be used as a second dummy half). Personally i don't think he adds alot of value as a dummy half, and would need to work alot on the speed of his delivery of the ball, if he was to play hooker.

What i would like to see would be when Morris takes his break, to be replaced by Hopkins, but the 5/8th (Dykes, Thorman, whoever) goes to dummy half and we play with one less back and one extra forward during that 10-15 minute period. If it comes at the back end of a half, it will help preserve the energy of the other forwards as it means the tackling and hit ups can be spread out amongst more "workers".

 

[Twizzle]

Pearson wasn't recruited for nothing, I think he'll be starting prop, one more year of soaking up and dishing out some tough stuff. !

True Bartman, hard to know what is on their mind.

It would be an injustice if we did not see alot of Armit and Tsoulos next season.

So I guess well see Caylo and Pearson at the start of the year and the younguns eased into the team. With these guys to guide them they are in good hands.

Looks like Pearson will do a Taylor and play one year at Parra before retiring, and if he does his job well with the new props he could finish the year in the Premmy league team, as it will be hard to keep the young guns out of first grade if every one is available.

He may then play a similar role to Taylor in that he could stay on and assist the lower grade forwards.

 

[El Diablo]

I just hope Smith doesn't play favouries [-o<

Doesn't mater who you are or how much you're on you gotta earn your spot. In years past it seemed as as this rule didn't apply to everyone.

 

[Pazza]

I think pearson will be used off the bench. Parra doesnt want too many inexperianced forwards coming on late in the half. Pearson will take on a leader role when Cayless leaves the field, cannings will start as will vella in the backrow.

 

[Sterling]

I just hope Smith doesn't play favouries [-o&lt, post:

Doesn't mater who you are or how much you're on you gotta earn your spot. In years past it seemed as as this rule didn't apply to everyone.[/quote"]

Unfortunately every parra player ive ever spoken to has commented that smith plays favourites.....dont think things will change next year..........

 

[El Diablo]

I just hope Smith doesn't play favouries [-o&lt, post:

Doesn't mater who you are or how much you're on you gotta earn your spot. In years past it seemed as as this rule didn't apply to everyone.[/quote"]

Unfortunately every parra player ive ever spoken to has commented that smith plays favourites.....dont think things will change next year..........

Seeing that if we have a bad year next year Smith might get the flick, things may change.

 

[wittyz chick]

and with so many of our old reggies boys having moved on, we might once again have a First Division team that we recognise, lol

HJ im thinking that we mite not actually have a Premier League team because of all the players Parra bought most of them will end up in Premier League so i think Parra will have 2 First Grade sides...which (i think) means Parra are bound to keep the Club Championship for another year and i have a feeling Parra will pick up the Premier League championship and the Grand Final for 2004.
Not forgetting the World Club Championship.

 

[Misty Bee]

So is it an admissin by Smith that Vella and Cayless were not cutting it? If I were them, I'd be worried by this, especially seeing as though they are both international props.

I agree with HJ in that Cayless's switch is a bit premature. There is now an awful lot of pressure on the front rowers at the club. back row is definitely an area where we do not need more players. Hindy, Hopkins, Widders, the Cowpats signings and Wagon provide enough talent and depth. Ading Vella and Cayless to ix might be robbing Peter to pay Paul.

Hope I'm wrong, though.

 

[Twizzle]

I agree with HJ

It must be Christmas.

 

[bartman]

So is it an admissin by Smith that Vella and Cayless were not cutting it? If I were them, I'd be worried by this, especially seeing as though they are both international props.

I don't think teams feared our forwards capabilities last year.
Well, Cayless is still international, but it's been a while since Vella has been considered in that league....

We need a front row that goes forward, and I think Cayless, Cannings and Pearson would handle that at the start of our season. With Morris at hooker of course, and Thorman/Dykes/Witt also running the show in attack.

Hindmarsh goes fine in the second row, and I think you also need Hopkins in the mix somewhere because of his versatilty and flair? The other three spots should go to strong reliable in-from players, whether that includes 2004 Vella, Wagon, Tsoulos, Armit, Peek, Cowpat boy, Widders, Stapleton, or Kaufusi remains to be seen.

The club have done a good job in building depth, lets just hope it's used properly in 2004 to keep that pack fearsome!

 

[Pazza]

anyone who doesnt fear Cayless is a idiot cause the guy is a deadset animal. But it take more than 1 class prop to make a top line front row. The truth is that Smith is looking for a new partner for Cayless in the front row. Why did we chase Josh Perry so hard? Why did we spend so much money on cannings? we have bought 5 props for next season (cannings, pearson, stapleton, kalfusi and moi moi). This has to indicate that the props we had just werent cutting it.

 

[The Colonel]

I think it was pretty clear last year that our props were lacking the go forward that the backs required to work properly in attack. For the first time in a long time the back five weren't sharing the tries around. Only Matt Petersen was picking up a lot and Jamie's 14 were made look good AFTER the five tries against the Sharks. To lay that statistic at the feet of the lack of quality ball out of five-eight is unfair.

Be it a wake up call or a masterstroke reamins to be seen however our forwards clearly did not have what was required last year. If we are going to go anywhere this year then the forwards have to aim up - no more excuses.

 

[Pazza]

I personally would have a forward pack of:

8.Cayless
9.Morris
10.Cannings
11.Hindmarsh
12.Vella
13.Hopkins

but i am not head coach

 

[wittyz chick]

well if the forwards dont cut it, its obvious whats going to happen they will be dropped so they will be playing at there best in first grade and premier league so if out forward pack isnt monstrous i'll be scratching my head #-o thinking what is smithy doing. The forwards will know that they'll be dropped if they dont perform so im expecting a top 4 finish if we have no injuries